Leveling apparatus



Jan. 8, 1963 E. J. voN ARB LEVELING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1960 EDWARD d. VON ARB MAM,

ATTORNE S Jan. 8, 1963 E. J. voN ARB LEVI-:LING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. l1, 1960 INVENTOR. EDWARD J. VON ARB I l U I l@ ATTORNEjS Jan. 8, 1963 E. J. voN ARB LEVELING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. l1, 1960 INVENToR. ln EDWARD J. voN ARB www ATToRNE s United States Patent() 3,071,887 LEVELING APPARATUS Edward J. Von Arb, Adrian, Mich., assignor to Revco, Inc., Deerfield, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Feb. 11, 1960, Ser. N0. 8,062 16 Claims. (Cl. 45-139) This invention relates to leveling apparatus in general and in particular to leveling apparatus which may be utilized with built-in or other cabinets which have leveling points that are not readily accessible.

The :built-in market which includes refrigerators, freezers, clothes and dish washers, etc., both in domestic and in some industrial applications has grown such that it `now affects a large portion of the economy and ha-bits of the consumers. Such devices almost always need leveling for best operation and always need leveling to enhance the appearance, particularly when adjacent to or between other built-ins or cabinets. Since a built-in most commonly has at least two sides which are inaccessible and sometimes three the product must be leveled before it is placed in its desired position. However, differences between the oor surfaces when the device is leveled and the floor surfaces where the device is tobe located may be such that it is impossible to properly level the device unless the leveling is accomplished with the device in its in stalled position. The latter is particularly true when it is desired tov level the top surface of the product into the plane deiined by the top surfaces of apparatus on either side of lthe built-in. Further, since the consumer himself mayinstall the devices, either to save the cost of installation or because the device is being moved to a new position after initial installation, the built-in device may not be properly leveled for best operation and appearance simply because of the problem in moving the heavier built-ins out to adjust the levelers and pushing it back into position. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved leveling apparatus. g

Anotherobject of this invention'is to provide leveling apparatus which allows or provides :tor adjustment to level from one side only of a product without moving the 'for built-in or other devices, of which a part is inaccessible for ordinary leveling purposes, is described hereinafter which comprises the following features. A vertically adjustable eXtensible-retractible means abutting against a iirst accessible leveling point is utilized for leveling a front or first point of a device. An inclined plane member and a cam member registering therewith is utilized to level an inaccessible or second leveling point. One of the inclined plane or `cam members abuts the inaccessible leveling point. A displacing member isattached to one .of the registered inclined plane and cam members and is adapted to move the member to lwhich it is attached with respect to the other of the registering members. The displacing member is operable from an accessible position adjacent the vertically adjustable means in the front. Thevertically adjustable means has a base member which has provision for journaling the displacing member therein. The

'base means of the vertically adjustable means also has a lateral guide extension which is adapted to maintain the registration of the inclined planeand cam members. The {displacing member and the attachedV one, of the registering ICC inclined plane and cam members, have male and female screw threads which cooperate upon the rotation of the displacing member to cause the movement of one of the inclined plane and cam members lwith respect to the other.

The leveling apparatus described herein may be also defined as leveling apparatus for independently moving two remote points with respect to each other comprising a jack or vertically adjustable means attached to a liirst of said two points, an inclined plane member, a cam member registering with said inclined plane member, one of said inclined plane and said cam members abutting a second of said two points, a displacing member journaled in a base member of the jack means and attached to said inclined plane member or cam member not abutting the second point, the displacing member and the member attached thereto being adapted'to cooperate with the mem- -ber abutting a second point to move the second point, the jack means having a lateral extension adapted to guide movement of the member attached to the displacing member, the lateral extension adapted to keep said inclined plane and said cam members in registration.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will appear when the following description is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FlG. I is a sectional view of leveling apparatus em-bodying the teachings of this invention;

FIG. II is a front View of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. I;

FIG. III is a cross sectional View of FIG. II; and

FIG. IV is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the teachings of this invention.

Referring to FIGS. I, Il and III there is .illustrated the rst embodiment of this invention in which the leveling apparatus is utilized to level the front and back corners of a built-in device which is designated generally at 10. The lower portion of the cabinet designated generally at 10 may comprise individual foot pieces or a completely unitized cabinet. It is to be recognized that an identical unit may be used on an opposite side so that all four corners are adjustable with respect to each other.

The front corner or point 11 is equipped with a stair step shaped recess member which extends laterally the full length of one side of the built-in 10 and which provides a recess into whichthe leveling apparatus may fit beneath the built-in so that the side walls of the built` in may be installed ush against adjacent cabinets or other built-ins. The most forward or front portion of the recess member '11 has a hole 12 formed therein to receive a screw threaded boss 13. The boss 13 is inserted into the hole 12 and may be welded or otherwise suitably attached to the recess member 11. Although a number of suitable leveling devices may be utilized for the verticallyadjustable means to level the front corner which is accessible to the consumer or serviceman, the screw jack means as described herein is advantageously utilized. The screw jack means is illustrated as comprising the boss 13 having female screw threads formed therein, a stud 14 having a bearing end 15 and a screw threaded end 16, and seat means, which may comprise an aperture 17 formed in a base means 18, to receive the bearing end 15 of the stud 14. As may best be seen in FIG. I rotation of the stud 14 by the application of a wrench to the hexagonally formed portion 19 causes vthe stud to turn both in the seat or base means 17 and 18 and also within the boss 13. The rotation of the bearing end 15 in the base means 18 eifects no vertical movement of the front corner of the built-in 10. However, the cooperation between the male and female vthreads of the other end of the stud 14 and the .boss 13 causes the front corner of the built-in to be vertically vdisplaced to a desired point. v

The base means 18 of the vertically adjustable or jack means utilized to level the front corner of the built-in is provided with a laterally extending member which is generally U-shaped. The lateral member 20 extends to the rear corner of the built-in it). As best seen in FIG. I a wedge or inclined plane member having an inclined plane surface 31 is attached to and/or abutted against the rear corner of the built-in device Iii). Disposed within the lateral extension member 20 and registering with the inclined plane member 31 is a cam member 40. The lateral extension member 20 maintains the registration of the inclined plane surface 31 and the cam member 40. An elongated bolt 50 journaled in an aperture 51 of the base member 18 extends throughout the length of the laterally extended guide member 2t) and is attached to the cam member 40 by means of an aperture or cavity 41 formed in the cam member 40 and through the cooperation of male and female screw threads formed ou the bolt 50 and within the aperture 41 of the cam member 40. Rotation of the bolt 50 causes lateral movement of the laterally moveable cam member 40 which bears against the inclined plane surface 31. Such lateral movement effects a vertical adjustment of the rear corner of the built-in device 10.

Although generally the weight of the built-in device will be suflcient to assist lateral movement to the right, as viewed in FIG. I, of the cam member 4t) and hold the head of the bolt 50 against the base means 1S whenever the bolt 50 is properly rotated, it may be advantageous to provide the bolt 50 with a thrust collar arrangement 60 so that when the weight of the built-in device 10 is suiciently light the proper rotation of the bolt S0 will allow the bolt to bear against the base member 18 by means of the thrust collar arrangement 60 so that the cam member 40 will be properly laterally moved. The thrust collar arrangement 60 is illustrated in FIG. I and may comprise a washer 61 held in place, so that the bolt 60 may bear thereagainst, by means of a cotter pin 62 or other suitable means which will removably secure the washer or thrust collar 61 to the elongated bolt 50.

Referring to FIG. III there is shown a cross section which discloses the internal structure of the wedge or inclined plane member 30. As may be seen in FIG, III the wedge 30 need not be machined from a single piece of stock but may instead be press formed from a precut single sheet of metal. The structure shown in FIG. III is advantageously utilized because of the low cost of production and low cost of material. In any event, any suitably produced member having an inclined plane surface may be utilized to perform the teachings of this invention.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. I the rounded or cylindrical cam member 40 is most advantageously utilized since the rounded surface of the cam member 40 acts as a pivotal point for leveling the rear corner of the built-in device 10. That is, the inclined plane surface 31 makes only tangential contact with the cam piece or member 40. Therefore, a wedge member 30 may be permanently secured to the recess member 11 without fear of stressing the entire length of the recess member 11 because of any torque action due to leveling front and rear corners to `different heights on an uneven surface. Since the leveling apparatus for the rear corner may act as a pivot there will be no torque stress throughout the length of the recess member 11.

Referring to FIG. IV there is shown a substantially identical leveling apparatus in which changes have been made only in the rear corner leveling. An inclined plane member 70 is shown abutting and/ or attached to the rear `corner point to be leveled, The second inclined plane member 80 is shown attached by means of female screw threads to the displacing member or bolt 50. When the bolt 50 is rotated the lower wedge member Si) is moved laterally, vertically displacing the upper wedge member `70 and thus the rear corner against which the upper wedge member 70 abuts.

Although particularly advantageous embodiments are shown for the apparatus of this invention it is to be realized that there are functional equivalents which will accomplish the teachings of this invention. `For example, for displacing the front or displacing the rst point in a desired direction the jack means or vertically adjustable means 14 which is shown and described is meant to cover any vertically adjustable or extensible-retractible means which may be used on a kbase means abutting an accessible leveling point. There are several such devices known in the art which need not be described herein. For displacing a second point remote from a lirst point the teachings of this invention provide that an inclined plane member and a cam member registering therewith are required. Hereinbefore the apparatus has been described as assuming that the inclined plane member, such as 30 and 70 shown in FIGS. I and IV, is attached to or abutting the second point that is desired to be leveled. However, as most readily understood from viewing FIG. IV, the inclined plane member may be the lower wedge 80. That is, the lower wedge would be laterally displaced with the inclined plane surface 81 bearing against a cam piece (or the second point itself) such that lateral movement of the inclined .plane member 80 causes displacement of the second point that is being leveled in a desired direction. In the just described instance the upper wedge 70 would be such a cam member. Obviously, the cam member need not have an inclined plane surface itself but it advantageously may have such a surface.

Therefore, to properly define applicants invention, for leveling a second point remote from a first the combination comprises an inclined plane member and a cam member registering therewith. One of the inclined plane and cam members just described abuts an inaccessible leveling point. A displacing member, such as the bolt 50, is attached to one of the registering inclined plane and cam members and is adapted to move the member to which it is attached with respect to the other of the regis-l tering members. It is to be understood that the inaccessible point to be displaced in a desired direction may be the cam member itself. That is, the inclined plane surface may bear directly against the rear corner of the cabinet.

In summary, there has been illustrated and described apparatus for independently moving two points with respect to each other by manipulation of the apparatus in the vicinity of one of the points. The apparatus comprises a wedge member having an inclined plane surface attached to a first of said points, a laterally moveable member abutting said inclined plane surface of said wedge member, and jack means attached to a second point to be leveled. Means extending to the vicinity of the jack means are provided for displacing the laterally moveable member. The jack means or vertically adjustable means has a lateral guide extension adapted to guide the movement of the laterally moveable member. The displacing member is rotatably mounted in said guide extension adjacent the jack means. The displacing member and the laterally moveable member have male and female screw threads which cooperate when the displacing member is rotated to cause lateral movement. Although not shown or described herein it is to be understood that any other displacing member may be utilized in the place of the bolt 50 for causing lateral movement of any laterally moveable member adapted for use in this invention. The jack means may comprise as described hereinbefore a boss having female screw threads formed therein, a stud having a bearing end and a screw threaded end and seat means for receiving the Ibearing end of the stud.

In conclusion it is pointed out that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself to the exact details shown, since modiication of the same may be varie-d without departing from the spirit of this invention.

- Having described the invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus Ifor independently moving two points with respect to each other by manipulation of said apparatus in the vicinity of one of said points comprising, incombination; a wedge member, having an inclined plane surface, attached to a tirst of said points; a laterally movable member abutting said inclined plane surface of said wedge member; jack means attached to sai-d second point; means extending to the vicinity of said jack means for displacing said laterally movable member; the displacement of said laterally movable member moving said first point only and the operation of said jack means moving said second point on'ly.

2. Apparatus for independently moving two points with respect to each other by manipulation of said ap paratus in the vicinity of one of said points comprising, in combination; a wedge member, having an inclined plane sur-face, attached to a rst of said points; a laterally movable member abutting said inclined plane surface of saidA wedge mem-ber; jack means attached to said second point; said jack means having a lateral guide extension adapted to guide the movement of said laterally movable member; a displacing member extending to the vicinity `of said jack means adapted to move said laterally movable member; the displacement of said laterally movable member moving said first point only and the operation of said jack means moving said second point only.

3. Apparatus for independently moving .two points with respect to each other by manipulation of said apparatus in the vicinity of one of said points comprising, in combination; a wedge member having an inclined plane surface attached to a iirst of said points; a laterally movable member abutting said inclined plane surface of said wedge member; jack -means attached to said second point; said jack means having a lateral gui-de extension adapted to guide ythe movement of said laterally movable member; a displacing member extending to the vicinity of said jack means adapted to move said laterally movable member; said displacing member being rotatably mount-V ed in said guide extension adjacent said jack means.

4. Apparatus for independently moving two points with respect to each other by manipulation of said apparatus `in the vicinity of one of said points comprising, in combination; a wedge member having an inclined plane surface attached to a first of said points; a laterally movable member abutting said inclined plane surface of said wedge member; jack means attached to said second point; said jack means having a lateral guide extension adapted to i guide the movement of said laterally movable member; a

displacing member extending to the vicinity of said jack means adapted to move said laterally movable member; said displacing member being rotatably mounted in said guide extension adjacent said jack means;'said displacing member and said laterally movable member having male and female screw threads which cooperate when said displacing member is rotated to cause said lateral movement.

5. Apparatus for independently moving two points with respect to each other by manipulation of said apparatus in the vicinity of one of said points comprising, in combination; a wedge member having an inclined plane surface attached to a rst of said points; a laterally movable member abutting said inclined plane surface of said wedge member; jack means attached to said second point comprising a boss having female screw threads formed therein, a stud having a bearing end and a screw threaded end, and seat means for receiving said bearing end of said stud; means extending to the vicinity of said jack means for displacing said laterally movable member.

6. Leveling apparatus for independently moving two 6. remote points with respect to each other comprising, in combination; jack means attached to a iirst of said two points; a thrust member abutting against a second of said two points; said thrust member having an inclined plane surface; a displacing member journaled in said jack means adapted to cooperate with said thrust member to move said second point to a desired position.

7. Leveling apparatus for independently moving two remote points with respect to each other comprising, in combination; jack means attached to a iirst of said two points; a thrust member abutting against a second of said two points; said thrust member having an inclined plane surface; a displacing member journaled in said jack means adapted to cooperate with said thrust member to move said secondI point to a desired position; said jack means having a lateral extension to guide movement of said thrust member.

8. Leveling apparatus for independently moving two remote points with respect to each other comprising, in combination; jack means attached to a rst of said two points comprising a boss'having female screw threads formed therein, a stud having a bearing end and a screw threaded end, and seat means for receiving said bearing end of said stud; a thrust member abutting against a second of said two points; said thrustmember having an inclined plane surface; a displacing member journaled in said jack means adapted to cooperate with said thrust member to move said second point to a desired position.V

9. Leveling apparatus for independently moving two remote points with respect to each other comprising, in comn bination; jack means attached to a first of said two points; an inclined plane member; a cam member registering with said inclined plane member; one of said inclined plane and said cam members abutting a second of said two points; a displacing member attached to said inclined plane member or cam member not abutting said second point; said displacing member and the member attached thereto being adapted to cooperate with said member abutting said second point to move said second point.

l0. Leveling apparatus for independently moving two remote points with respect to each other comprising, in combination; jack means attached to a Iirst of said two points; an inclined plane memebr; a cam member registering with said inclined plane member; one of said inclined plane and said cam members abutting a second of said two points; a displacing member, journaled in said jack means, attached to said inclined plane member or cam member not abutting said second point; said displacing member and the member attached thereto being adapted to cooperate with said member abutting said second point to move said second point.

ll. Leveling apparatus for independently moving two remote points with respect to each other comprising, in combination; jack means attached to a rst of said two points; an inclined plane member; a cam member registering with said inclined plane member; one of said inclined plane and said cam members abutting a second of said two points; a displacing member, journaled in said jack means, attached to said inclined plane member or cam member not abutting said second point; said displacing member and the member attached thereto being adapted to cooperate with said member abutting said second point to move said second point; said jack means having a lateral extension adapted to guide movement of the member attached to said displacing member.

l2. Leveling apparatus for independently moving two remote points with respect to each other comprising, in combination; jack means attached to a first of said two points; an inclined plane member; a cam member registering with said inclined plane member; one of said inclined plane and said cam members abutting a second of said two points; a displacing member, journaled in said jack means, attached to said inclined plane member or cam member not abutting said second point; said displacing member and the member attached thereto being adapted to cooperate with said member abutting said sec.- ond point to move said second point; said jack means having a lateral extension adapted to guide movement of the, member attached to said displacing member; said lateral extension adapted to keep said inclined plane and said cam members in registration.

13. Leveling apparatus for independently moving two remote points with respect to each other comprising, in combination; jack means attached to a rst of said two points comprising a boss having female screw threads formed therein, a stud having a bearing end and a screw threaded end, and seat means for receiving said bearing end of said stud; an inclined plane member; a cam member registering with said inclined plane member; one of said inclined plane and said cam members abutting a second of said two points; a displacing member attached to said inclined plane member or cam member not abutting said second point; said displacing member and the member attached thereto being adapted to cooperate with said member abutting said second point to move said second point.

14. Apparatus for independently moving two remote points with respect to each other by manipulation of said apparatus in the vicinity of one of said points comprising, in combination; eXtensible-retractible means abutting a iirst of said two points for moving said first point only; means for moving a second of said two points including rst and second members, one of which has an inclined plane surface registering with the other member; one of said rst and second members abutting said second point; one of said 4iirst and second members being xed in place while the other of said members is displaceable; and means extending to the vicinity of said extensible-retractible means for laterally displacing the displaceable one of said members whereby the displacement moves said second point only.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said extensible-retractible means has attached thereto a lateral guide extension adapted to maintain the registration of said iirst and second members.

16. Apparatus as dened in claim 14 wherein said extensible-retractible means has a base means attached thereto and said displacing means comprises a bolt having one end attached to said displaceable member by screw thread means and the other end journaled in said base means; said bolt having7 a thrust collar secured theretov adapted to bear against said base means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 335,282 Graves Feb. 2, 1886 2,544,822 Brown Mar. 13, 1951 2,803,510 Carbary 1-- Aug. 20, 11957 2,828,578 McCabe Apr. l, 1958 2,932,122 Matter Apr. l12, 1960 

1. APPARATUS FOR INDEPENDENTLY MOVING TWO POINTS WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER BY MANIPULATION OF SAID APPARATUS IN THE VICINITY OF ONE OF SAID POINTS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION; A WEDGE MEMBER, HAVING AN INCLINED PLANE SURFACE, ATTACHED TO A FIRST OF SAID POINTS; A LATERALLY MOVABLE MEMBER ABUTTING SAID INCLINED PLANE SURFACE OF SAID WEDGE MEMBER; JACK MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID SECOND POINT; MEANS EXTENDING TO THE VICINITY OF SAID JACK MEANS FOR DISPLACING SAID LATERALLY MOVABLE MEMBER; THE DISPLACEMENT OF SAID LATERALLY MOVABLE MEMBER MOVING SAID FIRST POINT 